diff --git a/net/tipc/name_distr.c b/net/tipc/name_distr.c
index ba4f4906e13b..9bbb9f1ab62c 100644
--- a/net/tipc/name_distr.c
+++ b/net/tipc/name_distr.c
@@ -192,9 +192,12 @@ static void named_distribute(struct net *net, struct sk_buff_head *list,
 		skb_trim(skb, INT_H_SIZE + (msg_dsz - msg_rem));
 		__skb_queue_tail(list, skb);
 	}
-	hdr = buf_msg(skb_peek_tail(list));
-	msg_set_last_bulk(hdr);
-	msg_set_named_seqno(hdr, seqno);
+	skb = skb_peek_tail(list);
+	if (skb) {
+		hdr = buf_msg(skb);
+		msg_set_last_bulk(hdr);
+		msg_set_named_seqno(hdr, seqno);
+	}
 }
 
 /**